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MediationInDivorce

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Author:anushtha10@legalservices.com
Publishedon:January03,2013
MediationInDivorce

anushtha10@legalservices.com's
Profileanddetails

TheConcept&itsefficacyofAlternativeDispute
Resolution:
anushthasaxena

Itisthespiritandnottheformoflawthatkeepsthe
justicealive.LJEarlWarren.TheconceptofConflict
ManagementthroughAlternativeDisputeResolution
(ADR)hasintroducedanewmechanismofdispute
resolutionthatisnonadversarial.Adisputeisbasically
lisinterpartesandthejusticedispensationsysteminIndiahasfoundanalternativeto
AdversariallitigationintheformofADRmechanism.

NewmethodsofdisputeresolutionsuchasADRfacilitatepartiestodealwiththeunderlying
issuesindisputeinamorecosteffectivemannerandwithincreasedefficacy.Inaddition,
theseprocesseshavetheadvantageofprovidingpartieswiththeopportunitytoreduce
hostility,regainasenseofcontrol,gainacceptanceoftheoutcome,resolveconflictina
peacefulmanner,andachieveagreatersenseofjusticeineachindividualcase.Theresolution
ofdisputestakesplaceusuallyinprivateandismoreviable,economic,andefficient.ADRis
generallyclassifiedintoatleastfourtypes:negotiation,mediation,collaborativelaw,and
arbitration.(Sometimesafifthtype,conciliation,isincludedaswell,butforpresentpurposes
itcanberegardedasaformofmediation
NeedOfADRInIndia:
ThesystemofdispensingjusticeinIndiahascomeundergreatstressforseveralreasons
mainlybecauseofthehugependencyofcasesincourts.InIndia,thenumberofcasesfiledin
thecourtshasshownatremendousincreaseinrecentyearsresultinginpendencyanddelays
underliningtheneedforalternativedisputeresolutionmethods.Itisinthiscontextthata
ResolutionwasadoptedbytheChiefMinistersandtheChiefJusticesofStatesinaconference
heldinNewDelhion4thDecember1993underthechairmanshipofthethenPrimeMinister
andpresidedoverbyChiefJusticeOfIndia.Itsaid:"TheChiefMinistersandChiefJustices
wereoftheopinionthatCourtswerenotinapositiontobeartheentireburdenofjustice
systemandthatanumberofdisputeslentthemselvestoresolutionbyalternativemodessuch
asarbitration,mediationandnegotiation.Theyemphasizedthedesirabilityofdisputants
takingadvantageofalternativedisputeresolutionwhichprovidedproceduralflexibility,saved
valuabletimeandmoneyandavoidedthestressofaconventionaltrial".
InadevelopingcountrylikeIndiawithmajoreconomicreformsunderwaywithinthe
frameworkoftheruleoflaw,strategiesforswifterresolutionofdisputesforlesseningthe
burdenonthecourtsandtoprovidemeansforexpeditiousresolutionofdisputes,thereisno
betteroptionbuttostrivetodevelopalternativemodesofdisputeresolution(ADR)by
establishingfacilitiesforprovidingsettlementofdisputesthrougharbitration,conciliation,
mediationandnegotiation.
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Alternativedisputeresolution(ADR)(alsoknownasexternaldisputeresolutioninsome
countries,suchasAustralia)includesdisputeresolutionprocessesandtechniquesthatactasa
meansfordisagreeingpartiestocometoanagreementshortoflitigation.ADRisgenerally
classifiedintoatleastfourtypes:arbitration,conciliation,negotiation,mediation.
AlternativedisputeresolutioninIndiaisnotnewanditwasinexistenceevenunderthe
previousArbitrationAct,1940.TheArbitrationandConciliationAct,1996hasbeenenacted
toaccommodatetheharmonisationmandatesofUNCITRALModel.TostreamlinetheIndian
legalsystemthetraditionalcivillawknownasCodeofCivilProcedure,(CPC)1908hasalso
beenamendedandsection89hasbeenintroduced.Section89(1)ofCPCprovidesanoption
forthesettlementofdisputesoutsidethecourt.Itprovidesthatwhereitappearstothecourt
thatthereexistelements,whichmaybeacceptabletotheparties,thecourtmayformulatethe
termsofapossiblesettlementandreferthesameforarbitration,conciliation,mediationor
judicialsettlement.
Duetoextremelyslowjudicialprocess,therehasbeenabigthrustonAlternateDispute
ResolutionmechanismsinIndia.WhileArbitrationandConciliationAct,1996isafairly
standardwesternapproachtowardsADR,theLokAdalatsystemconstitutedunderNational
LegalServicesAuthorityAct,1987isauniquelyIndianapproach.
WhatIsMediation?
MediationisnotsomethingnewtoIndia.CenturiesbeforetheBritisharrived,Indiahad
utilizedasystemcalledthePanchayatsystem,wherebyrespectedvillageeldersassistedin
resolvingcommunitydisputes.Suchtraditionalmediationcontinuestobeutilizedeventoday
invillages.Also,inpreBritishIndia,mediationwaspopularamongbusinessmen.Impartial
andrespectedbusinessmencalledMahajanswererequestedbybusinessassociationmembers
toresolvedisputesusinganinformalprocedure,whichcombinedmediationandarbitration.
Anotherformofearlydisputeresolution,usedbyonetribetothisday,istheuseofpanchas,
orwisepersonstoresolvetribaldisputes.Here,disputingmembersofatribemeetwitha
panchatopresenttheirgrievancesandtoattempttoworkoutasettlement.Ifthatis
unsuccessful,thedisputeissubmittedtoapublicforumattendedbyallinterestedmembersof
thetribe.Afterconsideringtheclaims,defences,andinterestsofthetribeingreatdetail,the
panchaagainattemptstosettlethedispute.Ifsettlementisnotpossible,thepancharendersa
decisionthatisbindingupontheparties.Thepancha'sdecisionismadeinaccordancewiththe
triballawaswellasthelongrangeinterestsofthetribeinmaintainingharmonyand
prosperity.Allproceedingsareoralnorecordismadeoftheproceedingsortheoutcome.
Despitethelackoflegalauthorityorsanctions,suchmediationprocesseswereregularlyused
andcommonlyacceptedbyIndiandisputants.
Mediationbearsastrikingresemblance,insomerespects,totheancientdisputeresolution
processes.Inmediationthepartiesareencouragedtoparticipatedirectlyintheprocess.The
expandedframeworkofdiscussioninmediationconsistsofboththeapplicablelawandthe
underlyinginterestsoftheparties.
Themediator,anexpertintheprocessofdisputeresolution,controlstheproceedings,much
likeatribalchiefservingintheroleofpeacemaker.Butundertheancientmethodsif
mediationfailed,thesamepersonwasauthorizedtorenderabindingdecision.InIndia,while
judgeshavebeenquicktorecognizeincreaseduseofmediationasahelpfulmechanismfor
reducingcasebacklogsanddelays,Indianlawyershavenotrushedtoembracemediation.As
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withAmericanlawyersintheearly1980's,Indianlawyersareconservative.Theydonotlike
changeandarereluctanttoexposetheirclientstotheuncertainrisksofanunknownADR
process.Also,understandably,Indianlawyersviewmediationaspotentiallydeprivingthemof
incomebysettlingcasesprematurelyandtherebyobviatinglegalfeesthatwouldotherwisebe
earned.ThesamehasbeentrueforAmericanlawyersduringthegrowthofmediationinthe
USoverthelasttwenty(20)years.Inthefirstplace,bytheirearlyacceptanceanduseof
mediation,lawyersbecamenotonlythebesttrainedandmostqualifiedmediators
(incorporatingtheirmediatorworkintotheirlawpractices),butthelawyerswhodidnot
becomemediatorsbecamethegatekeepersformediation,selectingover80%ofthecasesthat
aremediatedandchoosingthemediatorsforsuchcases.
Mediationisaninformaldisputesettlementprocessrunbyatrainedthirdparty,calleda
mediator.Mediationisintendedtobringtwopartiestogethertoclearupmisunderstandings,
findoutconcerns,andreacharesolution.Theprocessisvoluntary.Duringthemediation,each
sidewillpresentitsviewoftheissue,andthemediatorwillworkwitheachsidetoattemptto
workoutasettlement.Attheendoftheprocess,themediatorcanpresenthisorherfindings
andpresentapotentialsolutiontotheissue.Themediationprocess,unlikearbitration,isnon
bindingthatis,themediatordoesnotimposeadecisionontheparties,buthe/sheattemptsto
presentasolutionthatisacceptabletobothparties.
Mediationcanbeusedindivorces,realestate,andlabourbargaining,andinotherdisputes,in
anattempttoavoidtakingacasetocourt.
Mediation,asusedinlaw,isaformofalternativedisputeresolution(ADR),awayof
resolvingdisputesbetweentwoormorepartieswithconcreteeffects.Typically,athirdparty,
themediatorassiststhepartiestonegotiateasettlement.Disputantsmaymediatedisputesina
varietyofdomains,suchascommercial,legal,diplomatic,workplace,communityandfamily
matters.Themediatoractsasaneutralthirdpartyandfacilitatesratherthandirectsthe
process.Mediatorsusevarioustechniquestoopen,orimprove,dialoguebetweendisputants,
aimingtohelpthepartiesreachanagreement.Muchdependsonthemediator'sskilland
training.Asthepracticegainedpopularity,trainingprograms,certificationsandlicensing
followed,producingtrained,professionalmediatorscommittedtothediscipline.
TheAdvantagesOfMediation
Therearevariousadvantagesofmediationwhichcanbeusedindivorces,realestate,and
labourbargaining,andinotherdisputes,inanattempttoavoidtakingacasetocourt.Someof
themarecost,confidentiality,control,mutuality,complianceandsupport.
Costwhileamediatormaychargeafeecomparabletothatofanattorney,themediation
processgenerallytakesmuchlesstimethanmovingacasethroughstandardlegalchannels.
Whileacaseinthehandsofalawyeroracourtmaytakemonthsoryearstoresolve,
mediationusuallyachievesaresolutioninamatterofhours.Takinglesstimemeans
expendinglessmoneyonhourlyfeesandcosts.Confidentialitywhilecourthearingsare
public,mediationremainsstrictlyconfidential.Noonebutthepartiestothedisputeandthe
mediatorsknowwhathappened.Confidentialityinmediationhassuchimportancethatinmost
casesthelegalsystemcannotforceamediatortotestifyincourtastothecontentorprogress
ofmediation.Manymediatorsdestroytheirnotestakenduringamediationoncethat
mediationhasfinished.Theonlyexceptionstosuchstrictconfidentialityusuallyinvolvechild
abuseoractualorthreatened

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ControlMediationincreasesthecontrolthepartieshaveovertheresolution.Inacourtcase,
thepartiesobtainaresolution,butcontrolresideswiththejudgeorjury.Often,ajudgeorjury
cannotlegallyprovidesolutionsthatemergeinmediation.Thus,mediationismorelikelyto
producearesultthatismutuallyagreeablefortheparties.
Compliancebecausetheresultisattainedbythepartiesworkingtogetherandismutually
agreeable,compliancewiththemediatedagreementisusuallyhigh.Thisfurtherreducescosts,
becausethepartiesdonothavetoemployanattorneytoforcecompliancewiththeagreement.
Themediatedagreementis,however,fullyenforceableinacourtoflaw.
MutualityPartiestomediationaretypicallyreadytoworkmutuallytowardaresolution.In
mostcircumstancesthemerefactthatpartiesarewillingtomediatemeansthattheyareready
to"move"theirposition.Thepartiesthusaremoreamenabletounderstandingtheotherparty's
sideandworkonunderlyingissuestothedispute.Thishastheaddedbenefitofoften
preservingtherelationshipthepartieshadbeforethedispute.
SupportMediatorsaretrainedinworkingwithdifficultsituations.Themediatoractsasa
neutralfacilitatorandguidesthepartiesthroughtheprocess.
ProcessOfMediation
Butthisprocessisinformalandnotbindingandthepartiesmaydeviatefromthisprocessand
followsomeotherprocessoftheirownchoice.
Themediatorbeginsbywelcomingthepartiesandintroducinghimself/herself.Themediator
thenoutlinestheprocessandtherolesofthemediator,theparties,andattorneys(ifpresent).
Themediatorendstheintroductionbyexplainingthegroundrulesfortheprocess.The
mediatorthenasksforstatementsfromeachparty.Bothpartieshaveanopportunitytotell
theirstoryaboutwhathappened,fromtheirviewpoint.Often,thesestoriesareemotional.The
mediatormayaskclarifyingquestions,buttypicallythepartiesdonotquestioneachother.
Afterbothpartieshavespoken,themediatormayaskmorequestions,bothtoclarifytheissues
andtoprovidetheotherpartywithgreaterunderstanding.Atthispoint,themediatormayask
thepartiesto(separateforthepurposeofdiscussion).Themediatortalkswitheachparty,
proposingsolutions,tryingoutscenarios,tryingtogetcommitmenttoasettlementbyboth
parties.Themediatorgoesbackandforthbetweenthepartiesduringthistime,clearingup
misunderstandings,andcarryinginformation,proposals,andpointsofagreement.
MediationInDivorce
Nowadays,forsignificantportionofadultandyoungstersmaritalandfamilyrelationsare
neitherstraightforwardnorstable.WithintheUS,inlinewiththerecentresearches13.8
millionchildren,twentyfive%ofthoseunderneaththeageofeighteen,arelivingwithonly
oneparentandanother5millionkidsintwofolkshomeslivewithabiologicalparentanda
stepparent.Andit'saclearestimationthat0.5ofthemarriagescanendupindivorce.People
prefertofilesuitsincourtsfordivorceetc.andittakesalotoftimeasmanycasesarepending
inthecourtsinIndia,acountrywhereeverydaycasesofdomesticviolenceandquarrelsare
seeninevery2peopleoutof10.Therefore,insteadofwastingsomuchoftimebygoing
throughcourtformalproceedingsapersoncangotoamediatorforsettlingdisputes.These
days,asmediationisverycommon,somestatesoftheUShavequiteconstantandbroaduse
ofdivorcemediatione.g.TaxesandConnecticut.Tosavetimeandenergy,itisnecessarythat
alternativelikemediationshouldbeadoptedinlargenumberwhichisthebestmethod.

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Therearehigherwaystorealizesettlement.Divorcingcouplesshouldconsidertheirchoicesin
aconstructiveandprogressivemannerstartingwiththeleasthostileapproach,divorce
mediation.Becausethefamilyproblemsarechangingintointensive,likewisedivorcehas
becomethusterriblycommon.Andthereforeeveryconcernedoneisinthehuntforan
effectiveaapproachout.Adivorcingcouplesknowsthatdivorcesimplydoesnotfinish
everythingconcerningawedding,thoughitendsthelegalcontractbetweenahusbandanda
wifebut,itshattersthehouseholdthatwasbasedonthatmarriage.Itconjointlycannotbreak
thelinkthattheyoungstersofthemarriagecreatesimplybyexisting.Mediation,conjointly
knownasdifferentdisputeresolution"maybeamethodbywhichanimpartialthirdperson
(generallyadditionalthanoneperson)helpstwodiscordantpartiestoresolvedisputethrougha
mutualconcessionandfacefacenegotiation.Amediatorcouldbeatrainedskilledwhodoes
notforceratherassiststhepartiesintheirownnegotiationwhilenotcreatingchoicesforthe
parties.Amediatorratherfacilitatethepartiesunderstandwhatishappeningtothemand
encouragesthemtobarterinsensiblefaiththatbringsfruitfulleadstofuture.
Mediatorsmostusuallyareappointedbythecourt,typicallywithagreementbythelawyersfor
bothsides.Mediatorscomebackinmanyvarieties.Anumberofthemareprofessional
personalmediators,manyofwhomarelawyers.Theyeliminatetherequirementforajurytrial
regardingninetypercentofthetime.Othersarevolunteermediatorsandseveralofthemare
retiredattorneysornonlawyerstrainedbyDisputeResolutionServices.It'samethodinwhich
thepartiesandtheirattorneysagreetoresolveallissuesinanenvironmentofcooperation,
honestyandintegritywithoutbeingengagedinadversarialtechniquesinoroutofcourt.
Thefinalbenefitsandbenefitsarguedtobeseenasaresultofdivorcemediation
embody:
1.Eachthepartiesareliberatedtoairtheirconcern.
2.Aneutralpersonassistseachtheparties.
3.Theapproachisalwaysnonadversarial.
4.Boththepartieshavemanagementovertheoutcome.
5.Thepricesarecuttoaniceextent.
6.Nobody'sprivacyishurt.
7.Asettlementagreementperthefamily'swants
8.Avoidanceoflitigation.
Divorcemediationmightnotbeacceptableforboththespousesundergoingtheprocess.
Ithasseveraldisadvantagesstill:
1.Theoppositespousemaynotcooperateandyoucan'tforcehim/her.
2.Theoppositepartycouldtrytoshowdominanceoveryouandhereacourtlawyercansolely
offsettheimbalance.
3.Theoppositespousemayfrightenorthreatenyou,andonceaspouseisafraidofpersonal
safety,theparticipationinterestdrasticallydropsdown.
4.Othersarguethatthedecreaseinthevalueofmediationandtheupperfeeoflawyersisdue
totheirhighexpertiseinthesectorandsolelytheycanhigherpredicttheappropriateoutcome
ofthecase.
Therefore,everydivorcingcouplesshouldtrytosettledowntheirmaritalissueswithin
themselves.Iftheycannotgothatmanneraminimumoftheyneedtonothideanythingfrom
oneanotherandshouldbearthemediationprocessresultinginaconclusion.Incircumstances,
thingsgoesoutofhandandboththespousescannotreachtoconformity,thetraditional
adversarialapproachmightbeafinalresort(bearingthepricesinmind).
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Despitesubstantialsupportfordivorcemediationdisadvantagesdoexist.Divorcemediation
mightnotbeacceptableforboththespousesundergoingtheprocess.Ithasseveral
disadvantagessuchastheoppositespousemaynotcooperateandyoucan'tforcehim/her.The
oppositepartycouldtrytoshowdominanceoveryouandhereacourtlawyercansolelyoffset
theimbalance.
Theoppositespousemayfrightenorthreatenyou,andonceaspouseisafraidofpersonal
safety,theparticipationinterestdrasticallydropsdown.
Othersarguethatthedecreaseinthevalueofmediationandtheupperfeeoflawyersisdueto
theirhighexpertiseinthesectorandsolelytheycanhigherpredicttheappropriateoutcomeof
thecase.
Thefamilycourtlawalsoempowersthefamilycourttoconsideralternativemodesof
reconciliationbetweencouples,includingmediation,whichcouldresultincouplesgetting
backtogetherorpartingwaysamicablybymutualconsent.Ifthemediationresultsinthe
coupledroppingtheiracrimoniouschargesandifinthemeantimesixmonthshaveelapsed,
thenthefamilycourtcannotinsistonwaitinganothersixmonthsbeforegrantingdivorceby
mutualconsent.
InitiativesAtNationalLevelToIncreaseMediationAsAModeOfSettlement
1.NewMediationCentersRelieveCourtsAsCasesIncreaseInKashmir
Aspopulation,educationandawarenessofrightsincreasethroughoutIndia,sodoesthe
numberofcourtcaseshere.Tohelpassuagethebacklogofcases,thegovernmentis
establishingmediationcenters,aphenomenonthathasrecentlyspreadtothestateofJammu
andKashmir.SRINAGAR,KASHMIR,INDIAissittingundertheshadowofagigantic
chinartreeinthecourtcomplexinLalChowk,adowntowncitysquare,awomaninhermid
30sanxiouslyawaitsherturnatoneofKashmirsnewmediationcenters.Thewoman,whose
lastnameisBegum,isaccompaniedbyherstepfather,whoisalsoherpaternaluncle.Saysshe
theyarewaitingfortheirvillagehead,whohasvolunteeredtospeakatthemediationonher
behalf.Inthemeantime,Begumshusband,theotherpartyinthedispute,entersthemediation
centertogivehissideofthestory.Ashediscussestheirmaritalissueswiththemediator,his
wifebargesintotheroomandinterruptshim.SofiyaMuzamil,themediator,askshertostop.
Thisisaroutineaffairhere,saysMuzamil,whoisalsoanattorney.Oftenpartiesindispute
engageinverbalbrawl.Sometimestheyturnviolentandsameleadstoascufflebetweenthem.
Inlattercase,policeistobecalledin.Muzamilsaysthatafterbothpartiesmeetwiththe
mediator,therearejointandindividualfollowups.
Varioussessionsjointandindividualareheldtoresolvematteramicably,shesays.
Feasibleoptionsareexplored.
TheBegumsareatthemediationcentertodiscusstheirmarriage.Theyweremarried12years
ago,andthehusbandisangrythattheystilldonthaveanychildren,Muzamilsays.Her
husbandpleadsitasoneofthegroundsfordivorce,whereasBegumsayshermotherinlaw
illtreatsandharassesher,Muzamilsays.Rebuttingtheseallegations,thehusbandretortsthat
hiswifeisshorttempered,whichleadstofrequentdisputes.
AbdulRehman,thevillageheadheretospeakonbehalfofthewife,tellsthemediatorthatthe
casecamebeforealocalvillagecommitteeafewyearsago.Thecommitteeaskedthehusband
topayherfivelakhrupees($9,100)ascompensationbecausehewantedtodivorceher.

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Buthedidntagree,Rehmansays.Hesaidthathecanpayoneandhalflakhrupeesonly,
butthatwasntacceptabletous.Iwantedthesametobeadeterrentforothers.Thenacase
wasfiledincourt,whereitlingeredforyears.
Hesaysthattheyeventuallyoptedformediationtohastentheresolutionprocess.Duringthis
timearound,wecameacrossmediationcenter,whichisbelievedtoleadtowardsspeedy
justice,hesays.Weexpectearlydisposalof[our]case.
Themediatorsaysthatshehasexploredvariousaspectsofthedisputeandlistenedtoboth
sides.
Thematterisntfinallyresolved,butallfactorsareheadingtowardstheirdivorce,Muzamil
says.
Citizenswithmoreeducationandawarenessoftheirrightsareturningtothestatesnewly
operationalmediationcenterstohastenthejudicialprocess.Becauseofabacklogofcases,
courtssendthoseconcerningissuessuchaspropertyanddivorcetotherisingnumberof
centers.Mediatorssaytheoverallresponseofcitizenshasbeenfavourable,thoughsome
lawyerscalltheprocessfruitless.
Althoughconceptionofthemediationcentersinthestatebeganin2007,thefirstonesbecame
operationallastyear.Therearenow14districtmediationcentersinthestate,accordingtothe
annualreportoftheMediationMonitoringCommittee,whichisresponsiblefortheir
functioning.
2.DelhiMediationCenter
WithanalarmingincreaseinthenumberofcouplesheadingfordivorceintheCapital,judges
havenowstooduptosavethesanctityofmarriage.Fromadvisingthecoupletogivetheir
marriageasecondchancetomakingthemunderstandthepracticalityoflife,thejudgesare
doingeverythingthatcanchangethemindofthecoupleheadingforseparation.
Theconceptofmediationcentresisrapidlygainingpopularity,andwithasuccessrateof63%,
thisnewroleofthegravelhammeringjudgeshasearnedthemaccoladesfromeverywhere.
Accordingtorecentcourtfigures,morethan1,36,000marriagestakeplaceeveryyearwhile
some8,0009,000divorcecasesarefiledeachyear.Infact,anaverageof10casesisfiledper
dayinjustonecourt.However,thenewAdditionalDisputeResolution(ADR)methodhas
giventhejudiciaryamorehumaneapproachinresolvingthematter.Samplethis:Acouple
whichhadfiledforadivorcerecentlywentbacktogivetheirmarriageasecondchanceafter
attendingsessionsinthemediationcentres."Themainproblemwiththecouplewasa
communicationgapasbothwereworking.So,whentheyapproachedus,allwetoldthemwas
totalk,bemoreexpressiveandresolvetheirissuesoveracupofcoffee.Itworkedforthem
andwithin5sittings,theydecidedtogiveitanothershot,"saidamediatorjudgewhorefused
tobenamed.
Earlier,thiswasn'ttheroleofmediationcentres.Thecasewasgenerallyforwardedtothecivil
courtsifthecouplewasnotreadytoreconcile.However,thenewADRmethodinvolvesan
enhancedroleofthejudge.ThecentreshavetakenthehelpofADJstodothejobofthe
mediators.InthemediationcentreatGolemarket,whichcomesunderDelhiLegalServices
Authority,therearefivedistrictandsessionsjudges,whomeetcoupleseverydaybetween8am
to7pm.similarmediationcentrescanbefoundinTisHazariandKarkardoma."Theroleofthe
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judgeinthesemediationcentresisnotonlytomediatebetweenthecouplesbutalsoto
understandthedisputebetweenthetwopartiesandcomeupwithanamicablesolution,"
SanjaySharma,theprojectofficerofDLSA,toldTOI.
"Mediationinthecontextofmatrimonialdisputesisdifferentinformandcontentfrom
commercialandpropertydisputes.Sowegiveadviceonthingslikemotivation,sentiments,
socialcompulsions,personalliabilities,andresponsibilitytosolvethematter,"saidamediator
judgeontheconditionofanonymity.
ThelatestfiguresattheTisHazarimediationcentreareencouraging.Thesuccessrateof
settledcasesinTisHazariisashighas63%whileatKarkardomait'scloseto60%.
"Outof7,473caseshandledbythemediationcentreinthepastthreeyears,7,264havebeen
disposedofbynow.About4,605caseshavebeensettledsuccessfully,"informedKapoor,the
judgeinchargeofthemediationcentreinTisHazaricourts.
"Ourmainjobisnottotellthemwhattodo,buttomediatebetweenthetwoparties.We
motivatethesecouplestosortouttheirdifferencesandthejudgesheretrytotalktothem
aboutissueslikepersonalliabilitiesandresponsibilitiestosolvethematter,"Kapooradded.
Thejudgesatthemediationcentresbelievethatthemindsetsofthepeoplehavechangedover
theyears.Whileearliergettingadivorcewasconsideredthelastresortforacouple,nowthey
considerittheirfirstoption.
MediationInIndiaAsComparedToMediationInUnitedStatesOfAmerica
IntheUnitedStates,lawyersandthelocalandstatebarassociations,aswellastheAmerican
BarAssociationandtheFederalBarAssociation,wereasenthusiasticasthejudgesintheir
promotionandutilizationofmediation.Americanlawyersunderstoodthatthelegalsystem
wasoverloadedandonthepointofcollapsefromthecourtsbeingwronglyutilizedfor
disputesthatcouldbebetterandmoreefficientlyhandledbymediationandotherADR
procedures.Bythemid1980's,lawyersandStateBarAssociationshadprofessionalized
mediationintheUS,bydevelopingmediatortrainingstandards,byprovidinglawyertraining
inmediationandbyprescribingethicalstandardsforlawyerswhenactingasmediatorsand
whenactingasadvocatesinmediation.Asaresult,trainedlawyermediatorsmademediationa
substantialpartoftheirlawpractice.Byrespondingpositivelyandemphaticallytoincorporate
mediationasawelcomeandusefulADRtoolintheAmericanlegalsystem,lawyershavenot
lostbusinesstomediation,buthaveratherbecomeensconcedasmediatorsandasthe
gatekeepersformediationintheUSlegalsystems.IntheUS,althoughlawyersinitiallyfelt
threatenedbymediationandresisteditasanunwantedchangeinthestatusquo,thelawyers
quicklyrealizedthatmediationwasjustanothertoolintheirlawyertoolbag.
InIndia,whilejudgeshavebeenquicktorecognizeincreaseduseofmediationasahelpful
mechanismforreducingcasebacklogsanddelays,Indianlawyershavenotrushedtoembrace
mediation.AswithAmericanlawyersintheearly1980's,Indianlawyersareconservative.
Theydonotlikechangeandarereluctanttoexposetheirclientstotheuncertainrisksofan
unknownADRprocess.Also,understandably,Indianlawyersviewmediationaspotentially
deprivingthemofincomebysettlingcasesprematurelyandtherebyobviatinglegalfeesthat
wouldotherwisebeearned.ThesamehasbeentrueforAmericanlawyersduringthegrowth
ofmediationintheUSoverthelasttwenty(20)years.Inthefirstplace,bytheirearly
acceptanceanduseofmediation,lawyersbecamenotonlythebesttrainedandmostqualified
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mediators(incorporatingtheirmediatorworkintotheirlawpractices),butthelawyerswhodid
notbecomemediatorsbecamethegatekeepersformediation,selectingover80%ofthecases
thataremediatedandchoosingthemediatorsforsuchcases.
Privatelitigants,too,mayharbouranxietyaboutmediationasanalternativetothecourt
system.Fearfulofexploitation,distrustfulofprivateproceedings,comfortedbythefamiliarity
ofthecourtsystem,insecureaboutmakingdecisionsabouttheirowninterests,orinterestedin
vexatiouslitigationorindelayingthecaseforeconomicreasons,somelitigantsmaypreferthe
lawyerdominated,public,formal,andevaluativejudicialprocess.
Theseimpressionsareinaccurateforavarietyofreasons.First,mediationwillnotfrustratethe
preferencesofsuchlitigantsindeed,theirrighttotrialwillbepreserved.Aneffective
mediationprocesscanquicklyallaythesefears.Litigantsinvolvedintheprocessaremuch
lesslikelytobeexploited.Theywillquicklyunderstandthatthemediatorhasnopoweror
socialcontroloverthemortheirresolutionofthedispute.Second,effectivefacilitatorswill
gaintheirtrustovertime.Third,ifthepartiesstillfeeltheneedforanevaluationofthelegal
issues,themediationcanbeaccordinglydesignedtodeliverthatservice.Attimes,litigants
canbettersavefacewithmembersoftheirfamily,community,ororganization,iftheycancast
responsibilityfortheresultonaneutralthirdparty,andforthisgroup,astrongevaluative
processmaybeappropriate.Whilejudgesandthecourtsprovidedtheinitialimpetustoward
mediationintheUnitedStates,itwasthelawyers'andlawschools'acceptanceofthecourt's
challengetofindbetterwaysofresolvingdisputesthatleadtorapidandwidespread
acceptanceofmediationintheUnitedStates.Globally,however,theexplosionofmediationin
EuropeandinAsiaisbeingspearheadedbycorporations,asmultinationalcorporations
("MNC's")seekquicker,cheaperandlessdisruptivemeansforsettlinginternalemployer,
managementandshareholderdisputesandexternalcommercialdisputeswithtradeand
distributionpartnersaroundtheworld.AtthefirstannualEuropeanBusinessMediation
CongressconvenedOctober2123,2004byCPRInstituteofDisputeResolution,140
attendees(includingrepresentativesfrommostoftheworld'slargestlawfirms)respondedtoa
SurveyonEuropeanBusinessMediationindicatingthat60%viewedMNC'sasnecessarily
leadingthechargeinglobalizationofmediation,while,25%viewedlawyersastheleaders,
andonly7%viewedcourtsastheleadersinmediationontheinternationalcommercialscene.
Nowthatmajorcorporateclientshavediscoveredmediationandarepushingforit,lawyers
whoresisttheincreaseduseofmediationinIndiawilllikelylosecredibilitywithexistingor
potentialMNCclientele.Onceitisunderstoodthatmediationisintendedtocomplement(not
replace)thejudicialprocess,thatitishighlyadaptabletodifferentcontexts,andthatexpertise
inIndiaisalreadygrowingrapidly,theapprehensionsmayquicklydissipate.
Theauthorcanbereachedat:anushtha10@legalserviceindia.com

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